Calendar of Upcoming Events
If you are interested in agriculture and sustainability related events I would suggest visiting the SEMAP website. Most of the events listed on this page are workshops/ events where we’ll be presenting, but we also occasionally post notices of meetings which might be of interest…
Recent & Upcoming Events
2024 NOFA/Mass Winter Conference
Super SOD – Superoxide Dismutase
Sunday November 17th 2019 – Southbridge, MA
2019 Soil & Nutrition Conference
Nourishment, Flavor, and Profit
Three Crops Which Definitely Make Money: Basil, Spinach, and Shallots
Financial sustainability is critical to making a career growing vegetables. In this workshop we’ll dive deep into the production techniques, challenges, and levers for profit for three crops which have been valuable additions to our planting plan at Brix Bounty Farm. Additionally we’ll review our “crop importance” list which we used to determined the core 15 crops we need to focus our production on each season for customer satisfaction and financial sustainability.
Saturday January 11, 2020 – Worcester, MA
NOFA/Mass Winter Conference
January 2020 – Dartmouth, MA
Free Workshop for Gardeners
Helfand Farm Community Gardens
Workshop Description
Sunday February 23, 2020 – Dighton, MA
SEMAP Ag & Food Conference
Past Workshops
Saturday January 12th 2019 – Worcester, MA
NOFA/Mass Winter Conference – Full Day Intensive
Tuning Up Nature with Trace Minerals – Advanced Workshop (Intermediate, Advanced)
Achieving top yields with vegetables goes beyond the “big six” (N-P-K & Ca, MG, S). In this workshop we’ll highlight the role of Boron, Copper, Iron, Manganese, Molybdenum, & Zinc in high yielding vegetable systems. We’ll discuss deficiency ID, using dry amendments to correct imbalance, and addressing in season needs with nutrient drenches and foliar sprays. Participants are encouraged to bring along soil tests and or photos of previous nutrient stresses in their fields.
NOFA Mass Winter Conf 2019 – 2 Page Handout – Trace Mineral Takeaways
NOFA Mass 2019 WC Tuning Up Nature with Trace Minerals PPT – Full Slides
Saturday January 13th 2018 – Worcester, MA
NOFA/Mass Winter Conference – Full Day Intensive
“Refining Fertility Programs: Adjusting Mineral Based Fertility Through the Seasons “
Brix Bounty NOFA 2018 Winter Intensive – Mineral Fertility Through the Seasons Slides 6 per
Brix Bounty NOFA 2018 Winter Intensive – Mineral Fertility Through the Seasons [Full Slides]
Soil Fertility Worksheets – NOFA Intensive Jan 2018
Session 1: Soil Testing, Assessing Mineral Deficiencies and Choosing Amendments
To provide a basis for the day’s discussion, we will quickly review the basics: CEC, base saturation and the “Big 5”: N-P-K + Calcium + Sulfur. We will also review the difference between Mehlich 3 and Modified Morgan soil testing, how to identify deficiencies in the field, and will also discuss the costs, pros, and cons of common amendments.
Session 2: Seasonal Mineral Availability & The Importance of Trace Minerals
We will delve into the role of trace minerals and discuss four fertility adjustments to meet seasonal conditional needs: spring, summer flush, summer drought, and fall. Time allowing, we will also discussion the specific mineral needs of high tunnels.
Session 3: Fertility Recommendations: Case Studies
In the final session, three soil tests will be chosen from those submitted by workshop participants and the whole class will work together to consider a mineral program for each case. Participants will have an opportunity to practice applying the learning gained in the earlier sessions.
Sunday February 25th, 2018 – Dighton, MA
SEMAP Ag & Food Conference
We’ll be presenting a workshop on Profitable Head Lettuce Production
Profitable Head Lettuce – SEMAP Ag & Food 2018 (6 slides per page) Powerpoint
NOFA/Mass presents a FREE Webinar on Tuesday Feb 27, 2018
Soil Testing for Fertility Decisions & the Role of Organic Matter in Nitrogen Budgets
At the heart of the organic movement is a continued effort to sustain and regenerate our natural resources. In this webinar we’ll discuss the role of soil testing for making informed fertility decisions on organic farms and gardens. We’ll review the role of soil mineralization and organic matter, including “ENR” (Estimated Nitrogen Release), as you develop a Nitrogen Budget for your fields this year.
…
Additional 2018 Workshops Will Be Announced this Winter
Stay Tuned
Archived Events
November 29 & 30 – Southbridge, MA
Bionutrient Food Association
7th Annual Soil & Nutrition Conference
I’ll be presenting a workshop at 8:30AM on Wednesday
Aiming for Quality Growth:
Supplementing Nitrogen in Vegetable Production While Maintaining Quality
As commercial farmers we continued to be rewarded by yield; as a key mineral element Nitrogen may promote heavy yields and thereby increase productivity (and profit). In this workshop we’ll discuss the role for supplemental nitrogen and strategies to ensure quality while pushing yields. Our discussion will include the importance of a balanced approach to soil fertility, a focus on key micronutrients, contrasting different forms of Nitrogen amendments, incorporating simple trials in your planting plan, and an overview of practical Nitrogen budgets across the spectrum of the seasons.
May, 2017 – Dartmouth, MA
Nitrogen in the Garden –
Helfand Farm Community Gardens
6PM – Monday June 26, 2017 – Dartmouth, MA
SEMAP Twilight Workshop at Brix Bounty Farm
Setting the Stage for a Successful Season with Full Spectrum Fertility
We’ll take a fieldwalk through the Brix Bounty vegetable fields surveying early season crop growth and focus our discussion on fertility steps we take at Brix Bounty to ensure crops are able to maximize growth during the longest days of the year. From boron to zinc we’ll cover the mineral foundations we invest in each season to promote healthy, vigorous crop growth. Included in the tour will be a deep dive into onion production, including: variety selection, enterprise analysis, cultivation strategies, fertility programs, and pest and disease management.
Saturday August 12, 2017 – Amherst, MA
NOFA Summer Conference
Workshop TBA
Archived 2017 Events
Saturday January 14, 2017 – Worcester, MA
NOFA/Mass Winter Conference
Is it Worth it to Grow Bok Choi? (Intermediate-Advanced): The only way to find out is to make enterprise budgets for specific crops within your diversified farm. Derek will walk participants through the steps involved in enterprise analysis. Chris will describe the practical realities of analyzing their bok choi and arugula crops, including performing data collection in the field, conclusions drawn, and how the resulting analysis will inform future planning.
Derek Christianson: Owner-operator of Brix Bounty Farm in South Dartmouth MA, outgoing Vice President of the NOFA/Mass board and Christy Kantlehner: Farmer, White Barn Farm in Wrentham, MA.
and
Growing Drought Resistant Vegetable Crops with Derek Christianson (Session Three): What kinds of management decisions lead to drought resilience in vegetable crops? Derek will discuss crop selection, calibrated mineral applications to support efficient photosynthesis, root system development, and cell wall development, as well as metrics and methods for triage—when to walk away from a crop in dry conditions, and when to intervene.
Sunday February 26, 2017 – Digton, MA
SEMAP Ag & Food Conference
The Finances of Vegetable Fertility: Where to Focus Your Fertilizer Dollars on New Land
This workshop will cover strategies for maximizing production (quantity & quality) when starting out on new land. Considering prior land use, reading soil maps, taking and interpreting soil tests, and factoring expected yields (and income) form the foundation of an initial fertility plan. We’ll cover fertilizer strategies to help you make wise investments for year 1 and beyond.
SEMAP 2017 – Finances of Vegetable Fertility PPT (full slides)
SEMAP 2017 – Finances of Vegetable Fertility PPT (6 slides per page)
ARCHIVED EVENTS
Tuesday December 15, 2015 – 10AM – Manchester, NH
New England Vegetable & Fruit Conference
Cost Effective Ways to Maximize Fertility Options
Full Slides.pdf or 4 Slides per Page.pdf
Cost Effective Ways to Maximize Fertility Options – Proceedings
February – March 2016
Winter Study Series
Wednesdays starting February 17th at the Dartmouth Grange
6:30 Optional Potluck, 7:30 Discussion
Contact the Farm for Details
Saturday January 16, 2016 – Worcester, MA
NOFA/Mass Winter Conference
Making Major Money with Minor Crops: Producing Profit on the Edges
Local demand for fresh goes beyond tomatoes; we’ll examine a selection of crops which are consistently high profit producers for us at Brix Bounty Farm. Using in-season monitoring and enterprise analysis, we’ll cover our key levers to success producing basil, cilantro, choi, parsley, scallions, shallots, and summer leeks profitably on a small scale…
Jan 2016 Powerpoint – 6 Slides Jan 2016 – Powerpoint – Full Slides
Basil (in Focus) – Jan 2016 Shallot Enterprise Budget – Jan 2016
February 8-9, 2016 – Stockbridge, MA
Soil & Health Conference at Kripalu
Presented by the Bionutrient Food Association
We are presenting a short workshop on Foliar Sprays – Mid-Season Corrections & Considerations at the 2016 Soil & Nutrition Conference. Here is an archived copy of our handout from Tuesday’s workshop
Foliar Sprays – Soil & Nutrition 2016
Foliar Sprays Powerpoint (6 per page) – Soil & Nutrition 2016
7PM – Thursday February 18, 2016
Dartmouth, MA
Free Gardening Workshop (Part 1 of 3)
Benefits of Trace Minerals in Your Vegetable Garden and Cultivating Cucurbits (Cucumbers, Melons, Summer Squash, Winter Squash, and Zucchini)
Presented by Helfand Farm Community Gardens
at the Southworth Library, Dartmouth, MA
Sessions 2 & 3 will be held in April & May
Sunday February 28, 2016 – Dighton, MA
SEMAP Ag & Food Conference
Am I Making Money Growing Green Beans… Umm Maybe? Enterprise Analysis For Improved Decision Making on Small Scale Vegetable Farms, Derek Christianson
Developing enterprise budgets on diversified vegetable farms may seem a daunting task. However, enterprise budgets are a great tool to inform your decision making… in the planning stages and in season. We’ll review basic templates for analysis, discuss strategies to make data collection quick and easy, and review a couple of real world enterprise budgets to highlight potential levers toward profitability.
March or April 2016 – Dartmouth, MA
Faces of Farming
Hosted by Dartmouth Agricultural Commission & SEMAP
A Free Evening Highlighting the Abundance of Agriculture in our Town.
Details Coming Soon
Thursday March 17, 2016 – West Barnstable, MA
Making the Most of Your Garden with Minerals
Hosted by Cape Cod Organic Gardeners
Tentative Date – Details Coming Soon
April & May 2016 – Dartmouth, MA
Roots Down Workshop Series – 2016
Hosted by Helfand Farms Community Gardens
Dates will be announced in March.
Free Gardening Workshops (Part 2 and 3)
April: Accelerating Spring Growth and Building Complete Proteins
“The Role of Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and Sulfur”
and Focusing on Alliums (Garlic, Leeks, Onions, Scallions, & Shallots) and Brassicas
May: Increasing Quality and Yield in your Nightshade Patch
with Magnesium & Potassium (Eggplants, Peppers, Potatoes & Tomatoes)
Spring/Summer 2016 – Brix Bounty Farm – Dartmouth, MA
Advanced Class – BCC Master Gardener Program
at Brix Bounty Farm
Dates & Topics will be announced in March.
Sunday June 19, 2016 – 3PM – at the Farm
Brix Bounty CSA Member Event (1 of 3)
Celebrate Fathers Day by joining us for a tour of the fields and an afternoon to visit to our Pick Your Own Patch. In June, we hope to have sugar snap peas & strawberries to pick. Registration via email or sign-up at the CSA pick-up tent.
Sunday August 7th, 2016 – 3PM – at the Farm
Brix Bounty CSA Member Event (2 of 3)
Celebrate High Summer by joining us for a tour of the fields and an afternoon to visit to our Pick Your Own Patch. In August, we hope to have green beans, cherry tomatoes, & (maybe) muskmelons to pick. Registration via email or sign-up at the CSA pick-up tent.
August 12-14 2016
NOFA Summer Conference – Amherst, MA
Productivity & Profitability Workshop
Exact Date, Time, & Details will be announced in May.
Monday October 10th, 2016 – 2PM – at the Farm
Brix Bounty CSA Member Event (3 of 3)
Celebrate the Bounty of Fall by joining us for a tour of the fields and an afternoon to visit to our Pick Your Own Patch. In October we hope to dig carrots and potatoes, and might have the last of the season’s green beans to pick.
Registration via email or sign-up at the CSA pick-up tent.
November 16-20, 2016 – Sante Fe, New Mexico
North American Biodynamic Conference
Visit the BD Association website for details.
Additional Fall and Winter 2016-2017 Educational Events
Will Be Announced in October 2016
Archived Events – 2015
Saturday January 10th, 2015- Worcester, MA
NOFA/Mass Winter Conference
Workshops we’ll be presenting:
Growing Profit & Health: Catonic Trace Minerals & Vegetable Production
(Copper, Iron, Manganese, & Zinc)
Trace Mineral Slides & Trace Mineral Handouts (7 pg.)
& A Growers Panel: Productivity & Profitability Across Scale
Update: Southcoast Gardeners Gathering
Wednesday January 21st 6PM – Dartmouth Grange
See Flyer for Details
February 11th & February 12th, 2015 – Northampton, MA
4th Annual Soil & Nutrition Conference
Presented by NOFA/Mass & The Bionutrient Food Association
Featuring Derek Christianson, Mark Fulford, Dan Kittredge, Bryan O’Hara, &John Slack,
Workshops we’ll be presenting: Specific Management Strategies: Early Season & Dry Weather Production
Registration online through NOFA/Mass
March 2015 – Dartmouth, MA
Winter Study Session featuring Teaming with Nutrients by Jeff Lowenfels. Contact the farm for more information.
Saturday March 1st, 2015 – Dighton, MA
SEMAP’s Southeastern Mass Ag & Food Conference
Workshop – Trace Minerals in Your Garden: Basics & Beyond
Saturdays March 22nd, June 14th, Sept 13th, 2015 – Dartmouth, MA
Growing Vegetables For Health, Quality, & Profit – A Season Long Series
Workshop 1: March 22 – Finding Your Niche & Honoring Your Passion: Crop Enterprise Budgets, Planning the Season, Greenhouse Seedling Production, & “Bio-Builder” Field Sprays – a focus on alliums, lettuce, & tomato starts in the greenhouse.
Workshop 2: June 14 – Fertility Foundations – Dry Mineral Applications & In Season Management (Crop Monitoring, Water Management, & Foliar Sprays) – a focus on alliums, lettuce, & tomatoes. Including discussion on lettuce harvest/post harvest management, allium varieties and distribution schedule throughout the season, & tomato succession management.
Workshop 3: September 13 – Enterprise Analysis & Profitability and Fall Fertility Practices Including Soil Analysis – a focus on alliums, lettuce, & tomatoes. Including extending the season with late blight resistant tomatoes, downy mildew resistant fall lettuce varieties, & leek harvesting efficiencies.
Location: Brix Bounty Farm
Cost:
Entire Series, NOFA/Mass Member – $90
Entire Series, Non-member – $112
Individual Workshop, NOFA/Mass Member – $36
Individual Workshop, Non-member – $45
Register online at nofamass.org/events (Registration begins January 2015)
Saturday April 12th, 2014 – 9AM – Dartmouth
Roots Down 2014 Organic Gardening Spring Workshop Series (1 of 3)
Garden Real Estate 101 – Plant Spacing & Succession Planting
At the Helfand Community Gardens on Chase Road, Dartmouth, MA
Free!
Saturday May 10th, 2014 – 9AM – Dartmouth
Roots Down 2014 Organic Gardening Spring Workshop Series (2 of 3)
Healthy Starts – Direct Seeding & Transplanting Tips
At the Helfand Community Gardens on Chase Road, Dartmouth, MA
Free!
Saturday June 14th, 2014 – 9AM – Dartmouth
Roots Down 2014 Organic Gardening Spring Workshop Series (3 of 3)
Top Notch Tomatoes
At the Helfand Community Gardens on Chase Road, Dartmouth, MA
Free!
Saturday August 9th and Sunday August 10th, 2014 – Amherst, MA
NOFA Summer Conference
Archived Events – 2014
Archived Events – 2014
Roots Down Organic Gardening Workshop Series
(4/12, 4/26, 5/10, 6/14, 7/19)
Saturday January 11th, 2014 – Worcester, MA
NOFA/Mass Winter Conference
Workshops we’ll be presenting:
Focus on Fertility: The Case for Imported Nitrogen within Intensive Organic Vegetable Production
Sunday February 2nd – Tuesday February 4th, 2014 (Somerville, MA)
3rd Soil & Nutrition Conference
Presented by NOFA/Mass & The Bionutrient Food Association
Featuring Graeme Sait (Nutri-Tech Solutions, Australia)
Registration Opens in Early December online through NOFA/Mass
Saturday March 22nd, 2014 – New Bedford, MA
SEMAP’s Southeastern Mass Ag & Food Conference
2013 Events (Archived)
Sunday October 20th, 2013, 1-5PM
NOFA Rhode Island Advanced Growers Seminar
Presentation by Derek Christianson
URI East Farm, Kingston, Rhode Island
This seminar will explore the nutritional needs of different crop families, key minerals needed to support healthy growth and the role of fertility management in achieving optimum yields.
We’ll examine five crops in depth covering the fertility needs of each crop, cost and expense considerations, essential management their growing seasons and touch on cutting edge information to bring your production to the next level. Crops will include:
- Beets (chenopods & roots)
- Onions (alliums & bulbs)
- Spring Cabbage (brassicas & leaves)
- Tomatoes (nightshades & fruits)
- Winter Squash (cucurbits & fruits)
Thursday October 24th, 2013 – New Bedford – MA
The Marion Institute & NOFA/Mass present a day-long seminar with Chris Masterjohn
Human Health and Soil Health: Fat Soluble Vitamin Interactions and Foods from Pastured Animals.
Check out some of Chris’s work at his blog – The Daily Lipid
Registration available online soon…
Ocean Explorium, Union St., New Bedford
Friday October 25th – Sunday October 27th, 2013
A Bioneers by the Bay Conference Presented by The Marion Institute
Downtown New Bedford
Sunday November 10th, 2013
NOFA Rhode Island Advanced Growers Seminar – Field Session
at Brix Bounty Farm
2013 Events Archive
Saturday January 12, 2013
NOFA/Mass Winter Conference, Worcester – MA
Beyond Nitrates: Anions in Soil Fertility in the Northeast
(intermediate/advanced workshop)
Mondays January 14th – February 11th (2013)
5th Annual Winter Study Series (info)
at Brix Bounty Farm. Discussion focusing on
The Intelligent Gardener: Growing Nutrient-Dense Foods
by Steve Solomon w/ Erica Reinheimer
Saturday February 23rd, 2013
6th Annual SEMAP Southeastern Mass Ag & Food Conference
Bristol Aggie High School, Dighton, MA
Saturdays March 9th, April 13th – 2013
Bionutrient Food Association Production Course
Greater Plymouth Area
Tuesday March 12, 2013
Regional Growers Forum
Location TBA – New York
Saturday March 16th, 2013 – 1PM to 4PM
NOFA/Mass High Tunnels for Winter & Spring Greens Production Workshop
at Brix Bounty Farm
Thursday April 11th, 2013
Downtown New Bedford
Saturday April 13th & Sunday April 14th, 2013
Bionutrient Food Association – Consultant Training Course (Days 1 & 2 of 5)
Kittredge Farm, North Brookfield, MA
Friday May 10th, 2013 (tentative)
Brix Bounty Farmstand Opening Weekend
Saturday May 18th, 2013 – 1PM
Brix Bounty CSA Open House, Tour, & Seeding Party
at Brix Bounty Farm
Brix Bounty Farm 2013 Summer Field Day
Saturday June 22nd
858 Tucker Road, Dartmouth, MA 02747
10:30 AM SHARP – Grower’s Tour (for farmers & gardeners)
12:30 PM – Potluck Picnic Lunch
2:00 PM – Eater’s Tour
We’ll start the day with a grower’s tour of our farm fields (hopefully including a journey to the nearby King Farm field) to survey the highs & lows of the 2013 growing season…
Everyone is invited for a potluck picnic lunch which will begin at 12:30 PM.
At 2PM we’ll conclude the field day with a short tour focusing on topics of interest for folk who love to eat vegetables.
Monday June 10th & Friday June 14th
First Distributions for the 2013 Summertime CSA
at Brix Bounty Farm
Saturday June 22nd, 2013
Brix Bounty Farm Summer Field Day
at Brix Bounty Farm
Friday June 28th, 2013
Alderbrook Farm in Dartmouth
Thursday July 11th, 2013
Downtown New Bedford Farmers Market Season Starts
Downtown New Bedford
Friday August 9th – Sunday August 11th, 2013
NOFA 39th Annual Summer Conference
UMass Amherst Campus
We’ll be presenting 2 workshops at this year’s Summer Conference:
Small-Scale Beet Production: Finances, Craft, & Science
Managing Crop Residue Digestion & Nutrient Circulation
Saturday August 17th, 9AM – Dartmouth – MA
Fall Season Extension – Direct Seeding, Nursery Beds, & Transplants –
Maximizing your Garden with Short Season Fall Crops
We’ll cover the best options for late summer sowings and discuss the use of fall transplants to improve yields in your garden. Demonstrations will include a seed starting exercise so that participants may take home a newly seeded flat for September transplanting. We’ll also demo the use of floating row cover to create micro climates for the fall and to extend the harvest season beyond frost.
Free & Open to the Public
Location : Helfand Farm Community Gardens
Chase Road, Dartmouth, MA
Wednesday September 11th, 6AM – Dartmouth – MA
Fall & Winter Fertility in Focus – Amending Your Garden Plot, Wintertime Mulches, & Cover Crops
This hands on workshop will include a review of common mineral amendments for improving the fertility in garden plots. We’ll also discuss the use of cover crop & mulching techniques to protect the soil during the winter months.
Free & Open to the Public
Location : Helfand Farm Community Gardens
Chase Road, Dartmouth, MA
Sunday September 22nd, 2013
Please Join Us for a Special NOFA/Mass Solstice Supper at Just Right Farm in Plympton, MA
Limited Number of Seats are Available; Contact Derek for Information.
2012 Events
Monday Evenings: January – March
Brix Bounty Farm 4th Annual Winter Study
Session I
Sacred Economics by Charles Eisenstein
available through Baker Books in Dartmouth
an online at Reality Sandwich and through North Atlantic Books
3 Mondays beginning Monday January 16th, 2012 through Monday January 30th, 2012
Week 1 – excerpts from Part I: The Economics of Separation
Week 2 – excerpts from Part II: The Economics of Reunion
Week 3 – excerpts from Part III: Living the New Economy
Session II – Agriculture In-Depth
5 Mondays beginning Monday Feb. 6th, 2012 through Monday March 5th
Nutrition Rules!: Guidelines from the Master Consultants by Graeme Sait
This book is available for free from Graeme if you sign up to receive his free monthly NTS Nutrition Matters updates… Acres USA may also have hard copies available for folks who would prefer that medium.
Week 1 – Soil Health – Mineral Management – Intro, Walters, Kinsey, Martens – through pg. 40
Week 2 – Soil Health – Microbe Management – Ingham, Beck, Shaffer, Diver – pgs, 41-98
Week 3 – Plant Health Energy Management (pt. 1) – Tainio, Skow, Lovel – pgs. 99-141
Week 4 – Plant Health Energy Management (pt. 2) – Callahan, Wheeler, Andersen – pgs. 142-178
Week 5 – Animal & Soil Health – Zimmer, Brunetti, Salatin – pgs. 179-214
Each Week we’ll gather on Monday evening for an informal discussion focusing on the selected reading and an optional no-stress potluck. We’ll start dinner at 6PM and discussion at 7PM.
To Register (registration is free) for either or both sessions please contact Derek via email or phone, 508-992-1868.
January 14th, 2012:
NOFAMass Winter Conference – Worcester, MA
We’ll be presenting two workshops:
Finances of Farm Fertility (intermediate/advanced)
Finances of Full Spectrum Farm Fertility – NOFAMass Jan. 2012
Investing in farm fertility can positively impact the farm’s bottom line. Join us for a workshop covering the nitty-gritty of farm fertility budgets (both nutrients and dollars). This winter more than 40 percent of our wintertime CSA shareholders voluntarily purchased a “Deep Nutrition Share,” helping the farm to fund our capital fertility plan.
Calcium, Silica, & Boron: Mineral Synergies for Plant Health (intermediate/advanced)
Calcium, Silica, & Boron Powerpoint – NOFAMass Jan. 2012
Calcium, Silica, & Boron Bibliography – NOFAMass Jan. 2012
Calcium plays a critical role in healthy cells and healthy plants. In this workshop we’ll focus on the steps necessary to optimize Calcium in plant metabolism through an in-depth examination of Calcium, Silica, & Boron in our soil and plant systems. Attendees are encouraged to review Hugh Lovel’s ACRES article “The Biochemical Sequence of Plant Nutrition” (http://bit.ly/v1Sxht ) in advance of the conference.
Saturday January 21st, 2012:
Community Potluck, CSA Fair, & TedXManhattan Viewing Party
Presented by SEMAP & Local Farms
February 9-11, 2012:
Soil & Nutrition: Education & Coalition Bulding Conference 2012
In partnership with the Bionutrient Food Association and NOFAMass in Northampton, MA. John Kempf, of Advancing Eco-Ag (a soil amendment/consultant company based in Ohio), will be the featured keynote presenter on Thursday Feb. 9th.
Soil & Nutrition: Building Fires with Fertility Presentation
a condensed 4 slide per page version … Building Fires
Saturday February 18th, 2012, 1 to 4PM
Growing Greens for the Winter Market Workshop: Farm systems include growing in unheated greenhouses and managing soil nutrition. We will emphasize growing high quality greens to help nourish members during the dark months of winter. We’ll cover fertility and nutrition for winter growing, including optimum timing for harvests, wintertime bio-inoculants, crop monitoring, and maintaining full spectrum fertility. Marketing discussion will emphasize how farms can build broader markets and year-round connections with CSA membership.
Presented in partnership with NOFAMass at Brix Bounty Farm, Dartmouth, MA.
Details and Registration Information available on the NOFAMass Website.
Saturday February 25th, 2012
BCCD and SEMAP’s 5th Annual Food & Agriculture Conference
Southeastern Massachusetts At Bristol County Agricultural High School
w/ expanded Organic Workshop Track (in partnership with NOFAMass).
Interpreting Soil Tests and Developing Organic Fertility Recommendations
Addressing limiting factors in our soils is a key step to growing healthy, vibrant, delicious crops. Join us for an interactive workshop aimed at helping you better understand soil test results and developing organic fertility recommendations. Participants are welcome to bring soil test results to the workshop.
Powerpoint —— Fertility Recommendation Worksheet
March 7th, 2012:
Bionutrient Rich Farmer Production Course
Session II at Wishing Stone Farm, Little Compton, RI.
Thursday March 8th, 2012, 7PM
How to Maximize Your Garden
Drawing on more than a decade of farming in the northeast, proprietor of Brix Bounty Farm and community educator Derek Christianson will share his years of experience and effective ways to maximize the growing season, vegetable quality and production. From the proper preparation of the soil to ensure nutritious produce, to seed selection and successive plantings, he will discuss ways to extend the season, overall production and vegetable quality. No fee.
Rotch-Jones-Duff House & Garden Museum
396 County Street, New Bedford
Saturday March 10th, 2012 (2PM – tentative)
Organic Gardening Workshop
presented by Sustainable Braintree
Saturday March 17th, 2012 – 8:30AM – 5:30PM:
2nd Annual Teacher Training at Friends Academy
Presented alongside Steve Walach – 2012 School Garden Flyer
$35 for the day, includes seed trays, compost, hoops, row cover & more…
Registration via Survey Monkey
Sunday March 18th, 2012 – 12:30PM-3:30PM:
Restoring Health to Compromised Soils Workshop in Brookline
Presented by NOFA/Mass
Thursday March 29th, 2012 – 8:30AM-12:15PM
2nd Annual Southeastern Massachusetts Sustainability Forum
“Economic Benefits of Sustainability for Southeastern Massachusetts”
Woodland Commons, UMass Dartmouth
Thursday April 13th, 2012:
Free seedlings to get your garden off to an early start, available at Crowell’s Fine Art Gallery.
Earth Eve AHA Night in New Bedford
May 6th, 2012:
Brix Bounty Farmstand Opens for the 2012 Season…
Saturday May 12th, 2012: 9AM – Noon
NOFAMass Soils Building Series
Transplants and Seed Starting Workshop: Starting strong seedlings is an essential step toward maximizing yields. Our seed starting program includes inoculation, seed soaking, drenching, and foliar. In addition, we’ll focus on steps taken to ensure transplants develop a vigorous root system after transplanting and thereby increase the potential for crop health and production.
Presented in partnership with NOFAMass at Brix Bounty Farm, Dartmouth, MA.
Details and Registration Information available on the NOFAMass Website.
June 11-15 2012:
Summertime CSA Distributions Begin
Sunday June 17th, 2012: 3PM-6PM
NOFAMass Soils Building Series
Foliar Sprays and Crop Monitoring: Addressing mineral deficiencies through foliar sprays may improve crop vigor and vitality; and thereby increase root exudates which feed soil biology. This workshop will focus on discussing, demonstrating, and formulating proper foliar sprays used to improve crop health while including an emphasis on tools and techniques useful for crop monitoring.
Presented in partnership with NOFAMass at Brix Bounty Farm, Dartmouth, MA.
Details and Registration Information available on the NOFAMass Website.
Friday June 29th, 2012
SEMAP’s 5th ANNUAL FARM to TABLE DINNER
A culinary event not to be missed…
Sunday December 9th, 2012
Bionutrient Food Association – Production Course
Martha’s Vineyard
Wednesday December 19th, February 27th 2013
Bionutrient Food Association – Production Course
The Food Project, Dorchester, MA
First Monday – Monthly (April – October)
SEMAP’s Twilight Grower Education Series
On Farms Throughout Southeastern Massachusetts
Focusing on Organic Production (co-produced with NOFA/Mass)
Upcoming Topics: August – Cranberries, September – Cut Flowers, October – Cover Crops
July – September 2012:
We’ll be taking a hiatus from community presentations in late Summer 2012, as we focus on the heavy harvests of summer…
Monday November 6th, 2012: 8:30AM-5:30PM
NOFAMass & SEMAP Present 2012 Advanced Growers Fall Seminar with Paul & Sandy Arnold
Profitable Year-Round Farming & Marketing
Stonehill College, Easton, MA
$50 for NOFA or SEMAP members when registered by October 22nd. Registration and Details on the NOFA/Mass website.
Recent Events (2011)
for a complete listing see our Event Archives
Wednesday November 9th:
Bionutrient Rich Farmer Course – Session I in Little Compton, RI (Session II will be held March 7th, 2012)
October 21st-23rd:
Connecting for Change: A Bioneers by the Bay Conference in New Bedford, MA
Tuesday October 18th:
Roots Down – Free Organic Gardening Workshop:
Sunday September 18th, 2PM
Introductory Lecture to Bionutrient Rich Farmer Course at Wishing Stone Farm, Little Compton, RI
Tuesday September 20th, 5PM
Roots Down – Free Organic Gardening Workshop:
Wednesday September 14th:
EMassCRAFT at Powisset Farm in Dover
September 9th&10th:
Dartmouth Grange Fair – A Celebration of Rural Community at the Dartmouth Grange in historic Russells Mills Village.
August 12th – 14th:
37th Annual Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA) Summer Conference in Amherst, MA. This year we’ll be presenting two workshops at the Summer Conference:
- a beginner workshop “Interpreting Soil Tests” – Accurately gauging nutrient needs in our soils is a critical step in making sound fertility decisions. We will set out to demystify soil test results, from cation exchange capacity (CEC) and base saturation to ppm and lbs/acre. Hands on activity included to help participants gain confidence in interpreting soil test results.
Brix Bounty Farm Tip Sheet for Interpreting Soil Tests Workshop
Brix Bounty Farm Fertility Spreadsheets (draft form)
Relevant Bibliography (Neil Kinsey provides very accessible material building on the work of William Albrecht):
- Kinsey, Neil. Hands-On Agronomy. Acres USA. Austin, TX. – Book
- Kinsey, Neil. The Cation-Anion Connection. Acres USA. February 2007. – Article
- Kinsey, Neil. Soil Testing for Fertility Managment. Acres USA. May 2002. – Article
- Lovel, Hugh. The Biochemical Sequence of Plant Nutrition. Acres USA. June 2009. – Article
- see Dan Kittredge’s recommended bibliography on the Real Food Campaign website.
- an advaced workshop “The Case for Full Spectrum Fertility” – An examination of our pre-transplant fertility protocol. Join us as we discuss the steps taken at Brix Bounty Farm in the critical week leading up to transplanting. Focusing on soil fertility we aim to create prime soil conditions for vigorous root growth and thriving transplants. Inoculants, amendments, and energy in depth.
Brix Bounty Farm Tip Sheet for The Case for Full Spectrum Fertility Workshop
Brix Bounty Farm Fertility Spreadsheets (draft form)
Tuesday July 19th – 5PM:
Roots Down – Free Organic Gardening Workshop:
Summertime Farm Tour with a focus on Melons! Note: this workshop will be held at Brix Bounty Farm
Saturday July 16th – 9AM-noon at Friends Academy in Dartmouth
Join us for a follow up session to our March 2011 workshop for school gardeners.
We will have a chance to discuss what went well during the spring/early summer growing season — and what didn’t. Ideally, by putting our heads together we’ll figure out what is worth replicating and what needs adjusting — and why. We will also spend time reviewing tools, garden design and planting schedules.
Folks who didn’t make the March training are welcome. For more details please contact the farm at 508-992-1868.
Thursday July 15th ~5PM-7PM
Ask a Farmer – at AHA Nights in New Bedford. Have a garden related question? Need help identifying a weed or insect? Would you like assistance understanding your soil test results? We invite you to stop by the Brix Bounty Farm Market Stand at the Wing’s Court Market in downtown New Bedford on AHA nights throughout the fall to “Ask a Farmer“.
Monday July 11th:
Cancelled – Food: Reclaiming Our Community a conference hosted by the Second Half Life Long Learning Institute at UMass Dartmouth. Join us for the start of the week with a discussion focusing on You Are What You Eat.
Saturdays in May-June
Information about Diggin’ Deep – a new hands-on organic gardening course happening at Brix Bounty Farm on 5 Saturdays from May 21 – June 25, 2011. Course space is limited, pre-registration is required.
Thursday June 23rd – 6:30PM – 9:00PM:
Once again partnered with NOFAMass I’ll be presenting a workshop: Restoring Health to Compromised Soils – Soil Composition 101 at the Somerville Growing Center. Visit the NOFAMass website for registration details.
Tuesday June 21st – 5PM:
Roots Down – Free Organic Gardening Workshop:
Fertility Through the Summer – Compost Tea, Foliar Sprays & Nutrient Drenches plus Potatoes!
at the Lawler Library, 745 Rockdale Ave. in New Bedford
Tuesday May 17th, 5PM:
Roots Down – Free Organic Gardening Workshop at the Lawler Library, New Bedford – Understanding, Controlling, & Learning from Weeds plus Sweet Roots: Beets/Carrots!
Tuesday April 19th, 5pM:
Roots Down – Free Organic Gardening Workshops at the Lawler Library, New Bedford – Seed Starting 101 & 102 plus Enjoying Greens All Season Long!
Thursday April 14th
Sustainable Earth – AHA Night in downtown New Bedford.
We’ll join other SEEAL parnters at The Ocean Explorium for the annual Shrink Your Footprint Fair. Come plant seeds at the Brix Bounty Table from 6:30-8:00 PM.
Saturday April 9th
Local Food and Culinary Event at Bristol Community College in Fall River; including afternoon panel @ 1PM. More details coming soon. This event has been postponed.
Saturday April 2nd – 1PM – 3PM:
Brix Bounty Farm Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Spring Open House II. Stop in anytime during the early afternoon. Come meet your farmers, ask questions about our fertility plan, and learn about the spring work which brings us healthy summertime harvests.
Location – at Brix Bounty Farm, 858 Tucker Road, Dartmouth, MA 02747.
Sunday March 27th, 2PM-5PM:
Restoring Health to Contaminated Soils aka Soil Remediation 101. NOFAMass Workshop at Codman Community Farm in Lincoln, MA. Instructor: Derek Christianson. $25/$30. For details and registration link visit the NOFAMass website. Brix Bounty Tip Sheet – Soil Remediation 101.
Sunday March 20th – 1PM – 3PM:
Brix Bounty Farm Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Spring Open House I. Stop in anytime during the early afternoon. Come meet your farmers, ask questions about our fertility plan, and learn about the spring work which brings us healthy summertime harvests.
Location – at Brix Bounty Farm, 858 Tucker Road, Dartmouth, MA 02747.
Saturday March 19th, 9AM-3PM:
Starting and Sustaining School Gardens – Teacher-Training Intensive with Steve Walach and Derek Christianson at Friends Academy, Dartmouth, MA. $15 includes materials and lunch. The Starting and Sustaining School Gardens Flyer has details about the day. Registration is now available online; and is limited to 35, so we encourage early registration to guarantee attendance.
Tuesday March 15th, 5PM:
Roots Down – Free Organic Gardening Workshops at the Lawler Library, New Bedford – Seed Orders, Soil Testing, & (forgotten) Trace Minerals plus Top Notch Tomatoes! See more on the Roots Down page (linked in title).
Saturday March 5th, 8AM-4PM:
BCCD/SEMAP One Day Conference – Sustain Your Farm’s Future at Bristol Aggie HS in Dighton.
Thursday, March 3rd, 2011
Presentation to the Herb Society of America – New England Unit in Dartmouth, MA.
Mondays February 7,14,21,28 & March 7,14 2011
Winter Study Session II at Brix Bounty Farm – Focus “Agriculture in Depth” – We’ll cover two texts: Biological Transmutations by C.L. Kervran and Anatomy of Life & Energy in Agriculture by Arden. B. Andersen. For registration information see the Winter Study page.
Saturday January 15, 2011
We presented an intermediate workshop, A Farmer’s Introduction to Soil Fertility at the NOFA Mass Winter Conference in Worcester, MA. For workshop attendees we have an archive of our powerpoint: NOFA Winter Conference Powerpoint Jan 15 2011.
2010
We’ joined a morning panel on Soil Fertility at the Farmer to Farmer Conference in Sturbridge, Massachusetts presented by New Entry Sustainable Farming Project. For folks who attended the panel; here’s the .pdf of the Powerpoint Presentation – Farmer to Farmer Dec 9 2010.